US4134819A - Arrangement for controlling the electric energy supply to an electroplating installation - Google Patents

Arrangement for controlling the electric energy supply to an electroplating installation Download PDF

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Publication number
US4134819A
US4134819A US05/885,568 US88556878A US4134819A US 4134819 A US4134819 A US 4134819A US 88556878 A US88556878 A US 88556878A US 4134819 A US4134819 A US 4134819A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
housing
arrangement
sleeve
carrier
setting screw
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US05/885,568
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English (en)
Inventor
Rudolf Kreisel
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bayer Pharma AG
Original Assignee
Schering AG
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Schering AG filed Critical Schering AG
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Publication of US4134819A publication Critical patent/US4134819A/en
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D21/00—Processes for servicing or operating cells for electrolytic coating
    • C25D21/12—Process control or regulation

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an arrangement for controlling the rate at which a source supplies electric energy into a circuit, in general, and more particularly to such an arrangement which is used in an electroplating installation to control the rate of the electroplating operation which is being performed therein.
  • an electroplating installation includes at least one electroplating vat which accommodates an electroplating bath and is equipped with electrodes, and a carrier on which the workpiece or a plurality of workpieces is supported for the duration of the electroplating operation.
  • the carrier is removably mounted or supported on the electroplating vate so that the workpieces can be introduced into and removed from the electroplating bath together with the carrier which supports the same.
  • an electroplating installation is also too well known to require any protracted discussion here. Suffice it to say that a source of direct electric current is employed which supplies electric energy into an electric circuit of the electroplating installation which includes the above-mentioned electrodes and, more often than not, also the carrier for the workpieces. In other words, usually the electric current flows through the carrier, rather than only passing through the workpieces and bypassing the carrier. When electric current flows in the above-mentioned circuit, metal is being deposited on the workpieces at a rate which is determined by the voltage or the intensity of the direct electric current supplied to the electroplating installation by the electric source.
  • the proper control of the above-mentioned parameters of the electric current is determinative of the quality of the metallic layer deposited on the workpieces during the electroplating operation.
  • the above-mentioned parameters of the electric current must not be too high for the respective workpieces to be electroplated inasmuch as the deposited metallic layer would otherwise be faulty; on the other hand, these parameters should also be as high as possible in order to achieve that the electroplating operation is performed in a feasibly short period of time.
  • variable markings on the carrier for the workpieces to be electroplated.
  • the above-mentioned markings are adjusted at the location at which the workpieces are introduced thereinto to correspond to the properties of the workpieces to be electroplated.
  • This pre-set marking is then transmitted, at the respective electroplating station or vat, for instance, to terminal switches or to non-contact switching devices.
  • a control device of the source such as of a rectifier, has a certain value of electric voltage or electric current associated with each of the adjusted positions of the markings on the workpiece carrier.
  • the rectifier which is equipped with an electric setting drive, is automatically set to the above-mentioned value.
  • a further object of the present invention is to so design the arrangement of the type here under consideration as to permit a stepless control of the magnitude of the voltage or intensity of the direct electric current which is supplied to the workpiece carrier of the electroplating installation.
  • a concomitant object of the present invention is to develop an arrangement of the above-mentioned type which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, install and operate, durable, and reliable nevertheless.
  • one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in an arrangement for controlling the rate at which a source supplies electric energy into a circuit that includes a carrier which is displaceable into and out of an operative position in which it supports workpieces to be electroplated in an electroplating vat, which comprises an actuating member connected to the carrier for displacement therewith and for positional adjustment relative thereto; means on the vat for detecting, in the operative position of the carrier, the extent of positional adjustment of the actuating member and for generating a signal proportionate to the detected extent; and means for transmitting the signal to the source to control the same.
  • the arrangement of the present invention further comprises means for connecting the actuating member to the carrier, including an externally threaded sleeve and at one nut externally threaded onto the sleeve.
  • the connecting means further includes a connecting bracket which is attached to the carrier. Then, the above-mentioned nut contacts the bracket to connect the sleeve to the latter. It is further advantageous when the connecting means further includes an additional nut externally threaded onto the sleeve across the bracket from the above-mentioned nut and, together with the latter, clampingly connecting the sleeve to the bracket.
  • the sleeve is also internally threaded and the actuating member is a setting screw which is internally threaded to the sleeve. At least one arresting nut is threaded onto the setting screw and engages the sleeve to arrest the setting screw in a selected adjusted position thereof relative to the sleeve.
  • the setting screw has a disk-shaped actuating portion.
  • the sleeve prefferably has an inspection opening and a setting scale at the latter, and for the setting screw to be provided with an indicating marking which appears in the inspection opening to indicate the extent of positional adjustment of the setting screw on the setting scale.
  • the detecting means includes a housing mounted on the vat and a detecting rod movably supported in the housing and extending into the path of displacement of the setting screw as the carrier approaches the operative position thereof for the setting screw to move the detecting rod relative to the housing proportionately to the extent of positional adjustment thereof. Then, it is advantageous for the setting screw and the detecting rod to be coaxial in the operative position of the carrier.
  • the generating means includes a potentiometer which changes resistivity in dependence on the movement of the detecting rod relative to the housing. It is also advantageous when the detecting means further includes a spring which urges the detecting rod toward an extended position thereof relative to the housing in which the detecting rod projects to the greatest extent into the path of displacement of the actuating member.
  • the transmitting means include a cable.
  • means for sealing the housing which includes a sealed cable connection through which the above-mentioned cable passes from the interior to the exterior of the housing, and a bellows-shaped protective member which is sealingly connected to the housing and surrounds that portion of the detecting rod which extends outwardly of the housing into the above-mentioned path.
  • means for mounting the housing on the vat which includes a mounting lug rigid with the vat, an external thread on the housing, and at least one mounting nut which is externally threaded onto the housing and engages the mounting lug to connect the housing thereto.
  • the mounting means further includes another mounting nut which is located across the mounting lug from the one mounting nut and clampingly engages the mounting lug with the latter.
  • the arrangement of the present invention is constructed in the above-mentioned manner, it is not only very simple to manufacture and to set up, but it is also advantageous with respect to its function.
  • the adjustment member which is mounted on the workpiece carrier when it is displaced together with the latter toward the operative position relative to the electroplating vat, it actuates the detecting and generating means, preferably a potentiometer or an inductive transducer, which is rigidly mounted on the electroplating vat.
  • the resistivity of the potentiometer after the introduction of the workpiece carrier serves as a signal which is used for the regulation or setting of the rectifier to control the voltage or the current which the rectifier supplies to the respective electroplating installation, in proportion to the resistance of the potentiometer.
  • the resistance of the potentiometer or a similar transducer can be changed by a simple adjustment of the actuating member which is mounted on the workpiece carrier; as a result of this, the electric energy supply rate of the rectifier can be unproblematically varied.
  • the actuating member can be steplessly adjustable as to its position, there is obtained a technically simple pre-selection of the rectifier voltage or of the electroplating current.
  • FIG. 1 is a partially cross sectioned side elevational view of the arrangement of the present invention as mounted on a fragmentarily illustrated electroplating installation;
  • FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the arrangement of FIG. 1 showing additional structural details.
  • the reference numeral 1 has been used to designate a workpiece carrier which, in a known manner, supports workpieces to be electroplated in an electroplating vat 4.
  • the workpiece carrier 1 has a pin or a similar projection 6 which is supported on a support 5 which is rigidly connected to the electroplating vat 4.
  • the arrangement of the present invention which is used in this environment includes an actuating element 2 which is mounted on the workpiece carrier 1, and a transducer or a similar signal-generating element 3.
  • the workpieces which are to be electroplated are supported on the workpiece carrier 1 in a conventional manner and are electrically connected to the negative terminal of a diagrammatically illustrated source of electric energy, such as a rectifier 25.
  • the electric connection is established via a cable 23 or a similar lead, the support 5, the projection 6 and the remainder of the workpiece carrier 1.
  • the positive terminal for the rectifier 25 is connected, in a known manner, such as by a lead 26, with conventional and hence not illustrated electrodes which are rigidly attached to the lateral walls of the electroplating vat 4.
  • a bracket 7 is mounted, as illustrated, by a threaded connection, on the projection 6 of the workpiece carrier 1 and the actuating element 2 is connected thereto.
  • the actuating element 2 includes a threaded sleeve 8 having an inspection opening 9, an actuating member 10 illustrated as a setting screw having a disk-shaped actuating portion 11, an arresting nut 12 which is threaded on the setting screw 10 and two connecting nuts 13, 13' which are also externally threaded onto the sleeve 8 and clamp the bracket 7 between themselves.
  • the signal-generating element 3 is mounted on the electroplating vat 4 of the electroplating installation by means of a connecting lug 14.
  • the signal-generating element 3 is externally threaded and two connecting nuts 15, 15' connect the signal-generating element 3 to the connecting lug 14.
  • two connecting nuts 15, 15' connect the signal-generating element 3 to the connecting lug 14.
  • the signal-generating element is sealed, at its lower end, by a sealed cable connection 16, and at its upper end by a bellows-shaped protective member 17.
  • a potentiometer 18 or a similar signal-generating device which is accommodated in the signal-generating element 3 is protected from any influence of the aggressive atmosphere which exists in and around the electroplating vessel 4.
  • a cable 24 connects the signal-generating device 18 to a diagrammatically illustrated control 27 for the diagrammatically illustrated source 25.
  • the resistance thereof will determine the magnitude of the signal which is transmitted from the device 18 to the control 27 through the cable 24.
  • control 27 evaluates, in a fully conventional manner, the signal fed into it by the cable 24 and utilizes this evaluation, also in a fully conventional manner, for controlling the source 25.
  • the signal-generating device 18 of the signal-generating element 3 is equipped with a detecting rod 19 which is pressed by a spring 20 upwardly as illustrated in the drawing.
  • a detecting rod 19 which is pressed by a spring 20 upwardly as illustrated in the drawing.
  • the disk-shaped actuating portion 11 presses the detecting rod 19 downwardly, against the force of the spring 20, the resistance of the potentiometer or a similar device 18 changes.
  • the actuating element 2 presses the detecting rod 19 downwardly.
  • the extent of the downward movement of the detecting rod 19 can be selected by positionally adjusting the setting screw 10.
  • the extent of positional adjustment of the setting screw 10 will translate into a proportional change in the resistance of the device 18 which, in turn, controls the operation of the control 27 which determines the output rate of the rectifier 25 in terms of electric current or electric voltage.
  • the extent of positional adjustment of the setting screw 10 of the actuating element 2 can be determined with reference to a measuring scale 21 which is provided on the sleeve 8 of the actuating element 2 adjacent the inspection opening 9.
  • the setting screw 10, as illustrated, is provided with a marking 22 which indicates the extent of adjustment of the setting screw 10 relative to the measuring scale 21.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Electroplating Methods And Accessories (AREA)
  • Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)
  • Control Of Voltage And Current In General (AREA)
  • Coating With Molten Metal (AREA)
US05/885,568 1977-03-14 1978-03-13 Arrangement for controlling the electric energy supply to an electroplating installation Expired - Lifetime US4134819A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE2711537A DE2711537C2 (de) 1977-03-14 1977-03-14 Vorrichtung zur Einstellung des Spannungswertes an den Warenträgern von Galvanisieranlagen
DE2711537 1977-03-14

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US4134819A true US4134819A (en) 1979-01-16

Family

ID=6003815

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US05/885,568 Expired - Lifetime US4134819A (en) 1977-03-14 1978-03-13 Arrangement for controlling the electric energy supply to an electroplating installation

Country Status (13)

Country Link
US (1) US4134819A (de)
JP (1) JPS5835279B2 (de)
AT (1) AT354824B (de)
CH (1) CH631493A5 (de)
DE (1) DE2711537C2 (de)
ES (1) ES467402A1 (de)
FR (1) FR2382522A1 (de)
GB (1) GB1602513A (de)
IE (1) IE46574B1 (de)
IT (1) IT1093551B (de)
NL (1) NL7801227A (de)
SE (1) SE7802830L (de)
SU (1) SU795508A3 (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4481098A (en) * 1982-05-27 1984-11-06 Snamprogetti S.P.A. Frame for supporting and treating spent electrical accumulators in processes for the electrochemical extraction of the metals contained therein
US4964964A (en) * 1989-04-03 1990-10-23 Unisys Corporation Electroplating apparatus
CN101845649B (zh) * 2009-03-24 2011-07-20 上海宝钢设备检修有限公司 连铸结晶器铜板非均厚镀层的仿形电镀方法

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3027410A1 (de) * 1980-07-19 1982-02-18 Schering Ag, 1000 Berlin Und 4619 Bergkamen Verfahren zur eingabe von informationen an galvanisieranlagen, sowie zugehoerige ware und vorrichtung
DE4020820C2 (de) * 1990-06-29 1998-04-16 Ritter Starkstromtech Kurzschließeranordnung für Hochstrom

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR39149E (fr) * 1930-10-06 1931-09-03 Procédé et appareil de manutention automatique pour les dépôts électrolytiques
US2070343A (en) * 1934-06-16 1937-02-09 Lawrence C Turnock Current conducting bar
US2457510A (en) * 1946-01-23 1948-12-28 Delbert G Van Ornum Electroplating apparatus
US3417008A (en) * 1965-01-15 1968-12-17 Udylite Corp Switch for electrochemical processes
US3632499A (en) * 1969-01-02 1972-01-04 M & T Chemicals Inc Apparatus for varying electroplating current

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR39149E (fr) * 1930-10-06 1931-09-03 Procédé et appareil de manutention automatique pour les dépôts électrolytiques
US2070343A (en) * 1934-06-16 1937-02-09 Lawrence C Turnock Current conducting bar
US2457510A (en) * 1946-01-23 1948-12-28 Delbert G Van Ornum Electroplating apparatus
US3417008A (en) * 1965-01-15 1968-12-17 Udylite Corp Switch for electrochemical processes
US3632499A (en) * 1969-01-02 1972-01-04 M & T Chemicals Inc Apparatus for varying electroplating current

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4481098A (en) * 1982-05-27 1984-11-06 Snamprogetti S.P.A. Frame for supporting and treating spent electrical accumulators in processes for the electrochemical extraction of the metals contained therein
US4964964A (en) * 1989-04-03 1990-10-23 Unisys Corporation Electroplating apparatus
CN101845649B (zh) * 2009-03-24 2011-07-20 上海宝钢设备检修有限公司 连铸结晶器铜板非均厚镀层的仿形电镀方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SU795508A3 (ru) 1981-01-07
DE2711537C2 (de) 1985-12-12
IE46574B1 (en) 1983-07-27
ATA174378A (de) 1979-06-15
NL7801227A (nl) 1978-09-18
IT1093551B (it) 1985-07-19
FR2382522B1 (de) 1984-12-14
SE7802830L (sv) 1978-09-15
ES467402A1 (es) 1978-11-01
JPS53113727A (en) 1978-10-04
CH631493A5 (de) 1982-08-13
FR2382522A1 (fr) 1978-09-29
IT7821007A0 (it) 1978-03-09
GB1602513A (en) 1981-11-11
JPS5835279B2 (ja) 1983-08-01
AT354824B (de) 1979-01-25
IE780493L (en) 1978-09-14
DE2711537A1 (de) 1978-09-21

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